Gov. Fletcher Announces 2007 Homeland Security Grant Awards

Gov. Ernie Fletcher’s support of emergency responders is reflected in the 2007 homeland security funding awards for local agencies, which the Governor announced on Sept. 18, 2007.

"The Homeland Security grant process continues to focus on the greatest needs of our first responders and reward the highest scoring grant applications. Over 70 percent of our discretionary dollars will go directly to local agencies to support emergency communications capabilities of first responders."

Gov. Fletcher previously announced that Kentucky received just over $11 million in discretionary funds for local and state agencies. Of that total, more than $7.2 million will go directly to local agencies under the competitive grant program. The balance of funds will go to the state exercise and training program for first responders, citizen preparedness and outreach initiatives, Kentucky’s “hazmat” response teams and the state intelligence fusion center.

“This announcement represents our continued commitment to the security of our commonwealth’s communities and families,” said Gov. Fletcher. “The Homeland Security grant process continues to focus on the greatest needs of our first responders and reward the highest scoring grant applications. Over 70 percent of our discretionary dollars will go directly to local agencies to support emergency communications capabilities of first responders.”

Local agencies will receive more than $3 million for purchase of mobile data computers, which will be installed in first-response vehicles. Agencies will also receive or benefit from more than $2.5 million in communications infrastructure, $852,000 in new radios for first responders, and more than $800,000 for local 9-1-1 centers.

In addition to its grant application, the Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government was awarded a $500,000 grant for the MetroSafe project to help offset cessation of Urban Area Security Initiative funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

This year the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security (KOHS) received more than 200 grant applications requesting more than $74 million. Some 30 peer reviewers from the fields of law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, emergency management, technology, and the private sector scored the applications. Peer reviewers were asked to evaluate each application according to how effectively it would address a need and increase Kentucky’s capability to meet state and national homeland security priorities.

Communications infrastructure applications scoring one standard deviation above the average score were funded at 30 percent of the dollars requested. Radio applications were funded at 40 percent and 9-1-1 centers were funded at 20 percent. Mobile Data Computer applications scoring from average to one standard deviation above average were funded at 10 percent while those scoring above one standard deviation were funded at 20 percent.